via Bangkok Post, 09 March 2023: The Hok Peng Festival in Nan province celebrates local art and culture.
In the northern town of Nan last week, in 35°C midday heat, a colourful procession of villagers wearing distinctive ethnic attire made its way to Wat Phra That Chae Haeng down a lengthy staircase, aside which a pair of naga sculptures stood like guardians. A number of classic wood litters carried replicas of a gold, bell-shaped pagoda as well as various Buddhist offerings such as Lanna-style flags and khan dok trees, all to mark the return of the annual seven-day Hok Peng Festival.
As legend has it, Phaya Kan Muang built a 55.5m-high pagoda in 1353 to house Buddha relics including hair and a left wrist which were obtained from Sukhothai. Every year, the Hok Peng ritual is performed to worship the relics ahead of the Full Moon of the sixth northern Thai lunar month, which this year fell last Monday.
Nan is a cultural melting pot where hilltribes including the Tai Yuan, Hmong, Mien, Tai Lue, Thai Phuan and Tai Khuen make up about 10.5% of the population. The festival’s annual parade contest honours their rich cultural legacy and also draws many tourists. This year, a group of inventive competitors from 15 districts focused on sustainable living and environmental conservation in response to the effects of climate change, waste issues and PM2.5 fine dust pollution in addition to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: An image of Nan
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